Method for preparing a claim tree in the preparation of a patent application

Abstract

A method and computer program for preparing a patent application including independent and dependent claims by running a software macro to display a claim dependency tree with the ability to insert word or phrases within the tree. The claim dependency tree shows a diagram of the claims within a patent application and their dependency. The user can type a claim note ( 42 ) in the Claim Note data line ( 38 ) describing the highlighted claim's limitation. The claim note ( 42 ) is then placed adjacent the claim's respective number in the claim dependency tree.

1 . A method of preparing a patent application including independent and dependent claims comprising the steps of;
 presenting a Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ) in a word processing program,   presenting the claim numbers ( 26 ) in the Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ) in a tabulation ( 30 ) schematically showing a dependency of the claims, and   characterized by presenting a Claim Note data line ( 38 ) in the Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ), and   inserting claim notes ( 42 ) in the Claim Note data line ( 38 ) for summarizing the claim limitations and displaying claim notes ( 42 ) adjacent the claim numbers ( 26 ) in a tabulation ( 30 ) of independent and dependent claims in the Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ).   
   
   
       2 . A as set forth in  claim 1  including highlighting the claim number ( 26 ) in the Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ) and presenting a Claim Note data line ( 38 ) for inserting the claim note ( 42 ) for specific claim numbers ( 26 ) and displaying the claim notes ( 42 ) adjacent the claims numbers in the tabulation ( 30 ). 
   
   
       3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  including editing the claim notes ( 42 ) in the Claim Note data line ( 38 ) and maintaining claim notes ( 42 ) with the claim in response to changing the claim dependency and in response to changing the claim number ( 26 ). 
   
   
       4 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the word processing program includes a clipboard and including presenting a Copy option ( 36 ) adjacent the Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ) for copying the tabulation ( 30 ) to the clipboard. 
   
   
       5 . A method of preparing a patent application including independent and dependent claims comprising the steps of;
 running a software macro to present a tool bar ( 20 ) in a word processing program, and   presenting options in the Tool bar ( 20 ) on a display screen of Number Claims,   selecting Number Claims in the Tool bar ( 20 ) to present a Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ) with the claim numbers ( 26 ) therein,   presenting in the Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ) the options of List and Tree for displaying the claim numbers ( 26 ) in a Number Claims text block ( 28 ) in a tabulation ( 30 ) schematically showing the dependency of the claims,   presenting a Copy option ( 36 ) adjacent the Number Claims text block ( 28 ) for copying the tabulation ( 30 ) to the clipboard,   selecting the Copy option ( 36 ) adjacent the Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ) to copy the tabulation ( 30 ) to the clipboard, and   characterized by, presenting a Claim Note data line ( 38 ) below the Number claims text block ( 28 ),   highlighting a claim number ( 26 ) in the Claim Number ( 26 ) claims text block,   inserting a claim note ( 42 ) in the Claim Note data line ( 38 ) for summarizing the claim limitations, and   displaying the claim notes ( 42 ) adjacent the claim numbers ( 26 ) in the tabulation ( 30 ) in the Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ).   
   
   
       6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  including editing the claim notes ( 42 ) in the Claim Note data line ( 38 ) and maintaining claim notes ( 42 ) with the claim in response to changing the claim dependency and in response to changing the claim number ( 26 ). 
   
   
       7 . A computer program for preparing a patent application including independent and dependent claims and presenting a screen entitled a Claim Numbering data block ( 24 ) and comprising;
 a Number Claims text block ( 28 ) for presenting a tabulation ( 30 ) of independent claims and dependent claims,   a Tree option ( 34 ) for presenting said tabulation ( 30 ) of said claims in said Number Claims text block ( 28 ) in a tree diagram illustrating the dependency of said claims by offsetting claim numbers ( 26 ),   a List option ( 32 ) for presenting said tabulation ( 30 ) of said claims in said Number Claims text block ( 28 ) in a sequential list of claim numbers ( 26 ) one below each other and corresponding to claim numbers ( 26 ) in the application,   a Collect option ( 44 ) for compacting and arranging presenting said tabulation ( 30 ) of said claims in said Number Claims text block ( 28 ) in a list placing each of said dependent claims as close as possible to the parent claim from which it depends,   a Parent Claim text block ( 48 ) for presenting text of a parent claim selected in the Number Claims text block ( 28 ),   a Claim Number text block ( 40 ) for presenting text of one of said dependent claims selected in the Number Claims text block ( 28 ),   a Change Claim Number option ( 52 ) for changing and re-arranging a number of one of said claims selected in the Number Claims text block ( 28 ) and for renumbering said claims,   a Change Dependency option ( 56 ) for modifying the dependency of one of said dependent claims selected in the Number Claims text block ( 28 ),   an Insert option ( 60 ) for inserting one of said claims in the application and said tabulation ( 30 ),   a Remove option ( 64 ) for removing one of said claims from the application and said tabulation ( 30 ),   an Add option ( 66 ) for adding one of said independent claims to the application and at the end of said tabulation ( 30 ),   a Copy option ( 36 ) for copying said tabulation ( 30 ) to a clipboard and for pasting said tabulation ( 30 ) in a file,   characterized by a Claim Note data line ( 38 ) for inserting a claim note ( 42 ) including a summary of the limitation of a selected one of said claims selected in Number Claims text window and for displaying said claim note ( 42 ) adjacent said selected one of said claims selected in said tabulation ( 30 ).